Adjustable wing plow with means to positively maintain adjustment

ABSTRACT

A wing plow attachable to the side of a vehicle such as a truck. A horizontal mounting bar is shaped to fit across the frame, in place of the conventional front bumper. An upstanding post is supported at one end of the post ahead of the front wheels. A slide member is movable up and down on the post, and is movable up and down by a first power cylinder within the post. A pivot member and a hinge member are supported, at upper and lower positions, respectively, on the slide member, for horizontal swinging movement. A plow blade is tiltable up and down on the hinge member. A second power cylinder is connected between the pivot member and the plow blade. A resilient compression member extends between the back of the plow blade and the truck frame. The second power cylinder adjusts the slope angle of the blade and moves the blade between and upper, out-of-the-way position folded against the side of the truck, and a lower operating position. The compression member is variable in length to adjust the sweep angle of the plow blade. The first power cylinder can elevate the plow blade without changing its slope or sweep angles.

United States Patent [151 3,659,363 Sny r [451 May 2, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE WING PLOW WITH Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey 52 ..37/50, 37/42 R [51] int. Cl ..E0lh 5/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..37/4l,42, 50

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,125,818 3/1964 Kraft et al. ....37/42 R 2,991,566 7/1961 Sumner et al.. ...37/42 R 2,193,532 3/1940 Frink ...37/42R 2,643,470 6/1953 Kaeser. ...37/42 R 2,029,545 2/1936 Ross ..37/42 VL 2,983,482 5/1961 Cary ..37/2 RX MEANS TO POSITIVELY MAINTAIN ADJUSTMENT Inventor: Roderick C. Snyder, Wausau, Wis.

Assignee: Wausau Iron Works, Wausau, Wis.

Filed: June 15, 1970 Appl. No.: 46,044

Assistant Examiner-R. E. Suter Atz0rneyDavis, Lucas, Brewer & Brugman [57] ABSTRACT A wing plow attachable to the side of a vehicle such as a truck. A horizontal mounting bar is shaped to fit across the frame, in place of the conventional front bumper. An upstanding post is supported at one end of the post ahead of the front wheels. A slide member is movable up and down on the post, and is movable up and down by a first power cylinder within the post. A pivot member and a hinge member are supported, at upper and lower positions, respectively, on the slide member, for horizontal swinging movement. A plow blade is tiltable up and down on the hinge member. A second power cylinder is connected between the pivot member and the plow blade. A resilient compression member extends between the back of the plow blade and the truck frame. The second power cylinder adjusts the slope angle of the blade and moves the blade between and upper, out-of-the-way position folded against the side of the truck, and a lower operating position. The compression member is variable in length to adjust the sweep angle of the plow blade. The first power cylinder can elevate the plow blade without changing its slope or sweep angles.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMM 21972 3,659,363 SHEET 16F 2 INVENTOR Roderick C. Snyder wmmf wm ATTORNEY S PATENTEDHAY 2 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 Fig. 7

ATTORNE VS ADJUSTABLE WING PLOW WITH MEANS TO POSITIVELY MAINTAIN ADJUSTMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is a vehicle-carried wing plow, particularly a wing plow attaclunent for the side of a truck. Prior apparatus of this kind has been relatively complicated and used several single-purpose operating motors or cylinders. Many conventional wing plows are attached to the side of the vehicle toward the rear thereof where visibility for the driver is impaired, and where the direction of the plow can be changed relatively slowly because it is positioned substantially rearwardly of the steering wheels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle with a wing plow in which the direction of the plow can be changed quickly under the operators direction because the plow blade is attached to the vehicle as far forward as the front, steering wheels.

Another object is to provide a wing plow which readily can be attached to and detached from one side of a truck adjacent one of the front, steering wheels.

A further object is to provide a wing plow attachment having a minimum of parts and having only two multi-purpose power cylinders for I making all slope angle, sweep angle, stowage and elevational adjustments for the plow blade.

A specific object is to provide a wing plow in which the inboard end of the plow blade and its slope angle adjustment cylinder are both swingably mounted on a king pin carried by an elevatabl'e slide member to enable the blade to be elevated and lowered without disturbing preset slope or sweep angles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a truck supporting a wing plow illustrating a preferred form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the forward portion of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectionalview of FIG. 2, showing a pivotal connection for the plow blade;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sub-assembly of the present invention, illustrating one way of attaching the wing plow to the front of a vehicle;

FIG. MS a cross-section of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 and showing one specific arrangement for fastening the subassembly of FIG. 3 to the front portion of the vehicle frame in place of the conventional bumpers;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the same parts being shown in exploded perspective;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another sub-assembly, showing an arrangement for fastening the wing plow to an intermediate portion of the vehicle frame where the frame itself is shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 7 is a view partly in longitudinal section of a resilient compression member between the plow blade and vehicle frame; and

Like parts are referred to by like reference characters throughout the figures. 7

Referring now more particularly to the embodiments shown in the drawings, a truck has a body or cab 22 supported on a frame 24, the latter being carried by a pair of front steering wheels 26 and rear driving wheels 28, as is conventional. The frame shown is the usual box-type comprising a pair of Iongitudinal side channels 30 and cross channels 32, fabricated into a unitary assembly.

The frame side channels 30, 30 terminate in forward end portions 34 (FIG. 4) to which the front bumper (not shown) is normally attached. FIG. 4 shows the bumper removed to make room for the wing plow.

The wing plow attachment is generally designated 36. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it comprises the following major components:

a. A horizontal mounting bar 38;

b. an upstanding support post 40 carried at one end of the mounting bar;

c. a slide member 42 guided for upand-down movement on the support post;

d. first power means 44 carried within the vertical position of the slide member;

e. an upstanding king pin 46 on the slide member;

f. a plow blade 48 and a second'power means 50, both being swingably mounted on the king pin; and t g. a diagonal compression member 52 extending between the plow blade and an intermediate part of the truck frame.

The mounting bar 38 and its attachment to the frame are best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. As stated, it is installed after removing the front bumper. The forward portions 34 (FIG. 4) of the frame side channels-30 comprise a transverse vertical plate 54 supported across their undersides by comer plates 56, preferably welded thereto. The mounting bar 38 comprises two angle channels 58 and 60, welded into an enclosed, square-cross-section box channel. A lower vertical flange extension 62 is welded to the mounting bar. The bar 38. is mounted by bolts 64 and 66 engaging the plate 54 and frame front portions 34, as shown in FIG. 4. Vehicles having different frame forms and bumper supports, will have mounting bars which function the same-as bar 38 but may, have different shapes to fit the specific frames involved.

Refer now to FIG. 5. An L-cross-section angle channel 68 is supported on one end of the mounting bar 38. This is at the right side of the truck as viewed from the cab 22. The angle member 68 comprises two legs 70 and 72, at right angles to each other. Leg 70 being aflixed as by welding to the end of the bar 38. The angle member 68 supports post 40, as will now be described. 1

The post 40 is an upstanding U-section channel comprising a base plate 74, side plates 76, 76, and flanges 78, 78. The channel base and side plates enclose an outwardly open space 80, at the bottom of which is a clevis 81 comprising a pair of horizontally spaced apertured lugs 82 fixed as by welding (not shown) to base plate 74.

The slide member 42 comprises a vertical plate 84 with a top, horizontal plate 86 supported between a pair of triangular gussets 88. Plate 84 is cut away in FIG. 5 to show one of these gussets. Each has an aperture 90. The outer surface of plate 84 has welded to it four vertically spaced, triangular plates '92, 94, 96 and 98, all having vertically aligned holes 100 to receive king pin 46. 1

Along each vertical edge of the plate 84, and at the reverse side in FIG. 5, a relatively wide, vertical guide strip 102 is spaced away from the plate by the thickness of a relatively narrow, vertical spacer strip 104. These are assembled, on each edge of the plate, by a series of three through-bolts 106 (best shown in FIG. 3).

The slide member 42 is assembled on the post 40, with the guide strips 102 behind the post flanges 78. That is, each vertical flange 78 is pocketed within a vertical guide slot defined by a guide strip 102, a spacer strip 104, and a verticaledge of plate 84. Plate 84 functions as a cover for a portion of the space 80 within which the first power means 44 (a hydraulic jack) is contained and protected. Jack 44 is connected by pin 110 to the two clevis projections 82 in the post 40. And the upper end of jack 44 is connected by pin 112 between the apertured gussets 88 of the slide member.

' The post 40 is bolted'to the back plate 70 of angle member 68 by'a plurality of bolts 114 which are connected through matching holes 116 and 118, in plates 74 and 70, respectively. Any alternate method of fastening, such as welding, would be suitable.

A hinge member or clevis 120, best shown in FIGS. 2a and 5, comprises a pair of vertically spaced, horizontal plates 122 interconnected by a vertical plate 124. Each plate 122 has an post to adjust the aperture 126 joumaled about the king pin 46. The connecting plate 124 has an outer, flat, bearing surface 128 with an aperture 130. The lower of the plates 122 rests on and is slidable about the lower plate 98 of the slide member.

A pivot member 132 comprises a tubular body 134, with a vertical bore 136 and a pair of external, clevis-like projections 138, 138, the latter having horizontally aligned apertures 140. The pivot member 132 is journaled about an upper portion of the king pin 46 between supporting plates 92 and 94 on the slide member 42. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a, the inboard end of the plow blade 48 is held against the bearing surface 128 of the hinge member 120, and its tiltable up and down with respect to hinge member 120 about a pivot bolt 142. The bolt extends through opening 130 in the hinge member and a corresponding opening 144 in the plow blade.

The second power means comprises a hydraulic jack 50 extending diagonally between the slide member 42 and the plow blade 48 and connected respectively to the pivot member 132 and a similar member 146. A pin 148 provides a pivotal connection between the upper end of the jack 50 and the apertured projections 138 of the pivot member 132. A pin 150 similarly provides a connection between the lower end of the jack 50 and the member 146. The latter is pivoted to a clevis 152 on the back of the plow blade, about a pin 154 which is at right angles to the pin 150.

As has been described, the connections between the jack 50 and the pivot members 132 and 146 permit a wide range of angular movement between the parts, in the nature of universal joints.

It will be understood that the two jacks 44 and 50 will be suitably connected to hydraulic power sources, and controls, (not shown) through hydraulic lines 156 and 157. These will include the usual control valves and pressure and tank connections, all of which are conventional so are not specifically shown,

Refer now to FIGS. 2 and 7. The compression member 52 comprises a tube 160 telescopically assembled within a tube 162. Tube 160 has an end fitting 164 with an aperture 166. Likewise, tube 162 has a fitting 168 with an aperture 170. Fittings 164 and 168 are connected through double-clevis type universal joints 172 and 174, respectively, to a mounting frame 176 (to be described) and a pair of ears 178, 178 on the back of the plow blade 48. I

A collar 180 is fixed to the end of tube 162, remote from the fitting 168, and it has two diametrically opposed longitudinal extensions 182, 182. An aperture 184 is provided in each.

A slidable collar 186 is fitted on the outside of tube 160. It has two diametrically opposed apertures 188. A series of diametrically opposed apertures 190 are provided in the wall of tube 160. A compression spring 192 is interposed between the collars 180 and 186. By moving the tubes relative to one another, and matching apertures 184, 188 with suitable apertures 190, the tube portions can be set at a desired overall length and locked in place by a key 194.

The mounting frame 176 is best shown in FIG. 6. Two side plates 196 and 198 are fastened as by bolts 200 to the outsides of the vehicle longitudinal frame members 30. Each of the members 196 and 198 has an out-turned flange 201. Mounted across the flanges and fastened thereto by bolts (not shown) is a rear frame member 202. Universal joint member 172 is connected to the frame member 202 by a pivot pin 204 fastened between a pair of apertured plates 206, 206.

The inner end of the plow blade 48 can be adjusted to a desired height by actuation of the elevating jack 44. This imparts vertical movement to the sliding member 42, which carries both the plow blade 48 and the second power cylinder 50 up and down simultaneously without changing the slope or sweep angles of the blade.

The slope angle, that is, the vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground, can be changed, at any desired elevation, by actuating the second power cylinder 50. This lowers or raises the outer end of the plow blade relative to the inner end.

The sweep angle of the blade, that is, the horizontal angle between the plow blade and the frame, may be adjusted by changing the length of the compression member 52. This is accomplished by moving the tube sections and 162 relative to one another and locking them via key 194 through a suitable pair of apertures 190.

For transit, the jack 50 is retracted to lift'the plow blade 48 and the compression member 52 to their broken line position, up against the side of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2. In this stowed position, the wing plow attachment is completely portable and can be moved from one job to another at normal highway speeds. In stowed position, the compression member 52 may be shortened or not, as desired by the operator.-

One of the important advantages of this invention is that the plow blade 48 is at the front of the vehicle where it can readily be observed by the driver. Further, because the plow blade is adjacent the front wheel, the driver has a high degree of control over the direction of the plow, and can change it quickly, at will, by manipulation of the vehicle steering wheel. 1

It will be apparent that there are many additional ways, besides the embodiment illustrated and described, for practicing the invention within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A wing plow, for attachment to a vehicle having a frame supported by front and rear wheels, the front wheels being steerable, comprising:

a mounting bar having means for connecting to the frame at the front of the vehicle;

an upstanding post carried at one end forward of the front wheels;

a slide member guided for-up-and-down movement on the post;

a hinge member pivotally supported on the slide member for swinging movement about an upright axis;

an. elongated plow bladeextending radially away from the slide member having one end pivotably engaged with the hinge member for up-and-down tilting adjustment about an axis transverse to the length of the plow blade; a pivot member pivotably engaged with the slide member at a level above the hinge member;

first power means on the post for moving the slide member to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the hinge and pivot members without changing the vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground, said first power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected adjusted elevation;

second power means pivotably engaged respectively with the pivot member and with a portion of the plow blade remote from the slide member to selectively change said vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground and to move the blade between an upper, stowed, out-of-theway position and a lower, operating position, said second power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground; and

an elongated compression member extending diagonally between the plow blade and a portion of the frame intermediate the front and rear wheels, said compression member being variable in length to adjust the horizontal angle between the plow blade and the frame, said compression member being universally pivotably engaged, respectively, with the frame and with the plow blade to enable said horizontal and vertical angles of the plow blade to be adjusted and to enable the plow blade to be lifted to its said upper, stowed, out-of-the-way position adjacent the side of the vehicle by operation of the second power means.

2. A wing plow, for attachment to a vehicle having a frame supported by front and rear wheels, the front wheels being steerable, comprising:

a mounting bar having means for connecting to the frame at the front of the vehicle;

an upstanding post carried at one end of the mounting bar forward of the front wheels;

of the mounting bar a slide member guided for up-and-down movement on the post;

a king pin carried by the slide member and having a substantially upright axis;

a hinge member pivotably engaged with the king pin for 5 horizontal swinging movement about the axis of the king pin;

an elongated plow blade extending away from the slide member and having one end pivotably engaged with the hinge member for up-and-down tilting adjustment about a 0 horizontal axis transverse to the axis of the king pin;

a pivot member pivotably engaged with the king pin for horizontal swinging movement about the axis of the king pin at a level above the hinge member;

first power means on the post for moving the slide member to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the hinge and pivot members without changing the vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground, said first power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected adjusted elevation;

second power means pivotably engaged, respectively, with the pivot member and with a portion of the plow blade remote from the slide member to selectively change said vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground and to move the blade between an upper, stowed out-of-theway position and a lower, operating position, said second power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground; and

an elongated compression member extending diagonally between the plow blade and a portion of the frame intermediate the front and rear wheels, said compression member being variable in length to adjust the horizontal angle between the plow blade and the frame, said compression member being universally pivotably engaged, respectively, with the frame and with the plow blade to enable said horizontal and vertical angles of the plow blade to be adjusted and to enable the plow blade to be lifted to its said upper, stowed, out-of-the-way position adjacent the side of the vehicle by operation of the second power means. 3. A wing plow according to claim 2 in which the upstanding post is a U-shaped channel defining a vertically elongated space, and said slide member is fitted over the open side of the channel to enclose a portion of said space, and said first power means is disposed within said space and contained and enclosed behind said slide member.

4. A wing plow according to claim 3 in which said first power means is cylinder and piston means connected, respectively, to the post and to the slide member.

5. A wing plow according to claim 3 in which the hinge member is a clevis pivotably engaged with the king pin for horizontal swinging movement and having an apertured vertical bearing plate, and the plow blade is pivotably engaged with the clevis against the bearing plate for up-and-d0wn tilting adjustment to adjust the vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground.

6. A wing plow according to claim 2 in which the compression member comprises a pair of telescopically engaged tube sections, and means for fixing said sections relative to one another over a range of lapped conditions to vary the length of the compression member and thereby vary the horizontal angle of the plow blade relative to the vehicle frame.

7. A wing plow according to claim 2 in which the compression member comprises a pair of telescopically engaged tube sections, and resilient means between said tube sections to absorb impact forces against said plow blade. 

1. A wing plow, for attachment to a vehicle having a frame supported by front and rear wheels, the front wheels being steerable, comprising: a mounting bar having means for connecting to the frame at the front of the vehicle; an upstanding post carried at one end of the mounting bar forward of the front wheels; a slide member guided for up-and-down movement on the post; a hinge member pivotally supported on the slide member for swinging movement about an upright axis; an elongated plow blade extending radially away from the slide member having one end pivotably engaged with the hinge member for up-and-down tilting adjustment about an axis transverse to the length of the plow blade; a pivot member pivotably engaged with the slide member at a level above the hinge member; first power means on the post for moving the slide member to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the hinge and pivot members without changing the vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground, said first power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected adjusted elevation; second power means pivotably engaged respectively with the pivot member and witH a portion of the plow blade remote from the slide member to selectively change said vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground and to move the blade between an upper, stowed, out-of-the-way position and a lower, operating position, said second power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground; and an elongated compression member extending diagonally between the plow blade and a portion of the frame intermediate the front and rear wheels, said compression member being variable in length to adjust the horizontal angle between the plow blade and the frame, said compression member being universally pivotably engaged, respectively, with the frame and with the plow blade to enable said horizontal and vertical angles of the plow blade to be adjusted and to enable the plow blade to be lifted to its said upper, stowed, out-of-the-way position adjacent the side of the vehicle by operation of the second power means.
 2. A wing plow, for attachment to a vehicle having a frame supported by front and rear wheels, the front wheels being steerable, comprising: a mounting bar having means for connecting to the frame at the front of the vehicle; an upstanding post carried at one end of the mounting bar forward of the front wheels; a slide member guided for up-and-down movement on the post; a king pin carried by the slide member and having a substantially upright axis; a hinge member pivotably engaged with the king pin for horizontal swinging movement about the axis of the king pin; an elongated plow blade extending away from the slide member and having one end pivotably engaged with the hinge member for up-and-down tilting adjustment about a horizontal axis transverse to the axis of the king pin; a pivot member pivotably engaged with the king pin for horizontal swinging movement about the axis of the king pin at a level above the hinge member; first power means on the post for moving the slide member to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the hinge and pivot members without changing the vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground, said first power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected adjusted elevation; second power means pivotably engaged, respectively, with the pivot member and with a portion of the plow blade remote from the slide member to selectively change said vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground and to move the blade between an upper, stowed out-of-the-way position and a lower, operating position, said second power means rigidly holding said plow blade at a selected vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground; and an elongated compression member extending diagonally between the plow blade and a portion of the frame intermediate the front and rear wheels, said compression member being variable in length to adjust the horizontal angle between the plow blade and the frame, said compression member being universally pivotably engaged, respectively, with the frame and with the plow blade to enable said horizontal and vertical angles of the plow blade to be adjusted and to enable the plow blade to be lifted to its said upper, stowed, out-of-the-way position adjacent the side of the vehicle by operation of the second power means.
 3. A wing plow according to claim 2 in which the upstanding post is a U-shaped channel defining a vertically elongated space, and said slide member is fitted over the open side of the channel to enclose a portion of said space, and said first power means is disposed within said space and contained and enclosed behind said slide member.
 4. A wing plow according to claim 3 in which said first power means is cylinder and piston means connected, respectively, to the post and to the slide member.
 5. A wing plow according to claim 3 in which the hinge member is a clevis pivotably engaged with the king pin for horizontal swinging movement and having an apertured vertical bearing plate, and the plow blade is pivotably engaged with the clevis against the bearing plate for up-and-down tilting adjustment to adjust the vertical angle between the plow blade and the ground.
 6. A wing plow according to claim 2 in which the compression member comprises a pair of telescopically engaged tube sections, and means for fixing said sections relative to one another over a range of lapped conditions to vary the length of the compression member and thereby vary the horizontal angle of the plow blade relative to the vehicle frame.
 7. A wing plow according to claim 2 in which the compression member comprises a pair of telescopically engaged tube sections, and resilient means between said tube sections to absorb impact forces against said plow blade. 